Welcome to Keeping Connected and the Weekly Update! This is our last Keeping Connected of the year. It is a great edition with reflections from Peter and how his time with us as a learner has helped him gradually get back to work. You can also meet one of our newly employed Peer Sessional Workers Laura and read about her thoughts on how to re-frame problems into something more positive.

It’s been another fantastic year at the College and we have a very exciting year ahead with new staff and resources on the way to grow and reach more people. Our College is not made of bricks or mortar but of people that connect and work through life’s challenges together authentically and with empathy. None of us have got life sorted, we are all a work in progress but we are stronger and better when we connect and take the time to learn from each other. We will need your help next year to spread the word about us as we start to offer more courses across Kirklees and Calderdale.

Hope Street Resource Centre is closing at the end of the year so we will be running courses in different venues in and around Halifax. Details to follow soon!

There are still a few places remaining on our courses up to December and lots of new courses to book onto in 2024. So do have a look at our current timetable to find out more. Just click on the icon below:

 

 

Click her for our Keeping Connected Newsletter:

Keeping Connected December 2023

We understand that anxiety can be very distressing but you can move forward with a bit of support and understanding. Remember if you are struggling with anxiety and that is stopping you getting to a course, please do call us so we can look out for you and give you an extra warm welcome!

College Courses on offer:

 

Don’t miss out book now…

Calming Christmas Crafts

Vera’s Community Hub, Berry Brow Infant and Nursery School, Birch Road, Berry Brow, Huddersfield, HD4 7LP

Wednesday 29th November 12-2.30pm

Holmfirth Tech, 140 Huddersfield Road, Holmfirth, HD9 3AR

Wednesday 13th December 6-8.30pm

Join our lovely Peer Worker, Laura in the art of paper folding, whilst learning about the beneficial practice of mindfulness. In this brand-new, one-off workshop, designed to bring festive cheer and inner peace, we will be introduced to the science of mindfulness, take some collective deep breaths, then apply our learning to crafting decorative Origami Stars and Magazine Trees. Focusing on a repetitive engaging activity is a very powerful tool to calm the body and mind, as we focus on the now, and let go of any worrisome thoughts for a few hours.

A warm drink and mince pies will be available at this festive session – the perfect start to a delightful December!

 

Calming Christmas Crafts

 

Food & Household Budgeting

Kirklees Recovery & Wellbeing College, Pathways, Nettleton Rd, Mirfield WF14 9AQ

Tuesday 5 December at 1pm – 3pm (2 weeks)

Delivered by the ever lovely, Karl from The Richmond Fellowship, this two-week course looks at how we can make the most out of our money when doing our food shopping.  We will also learn ways to make our household budget go further.  During this friendly and informative session, we will share hints and tips to save energy and discover organisations who can provide support to anyone struggling with money issues.

Please note that due to Richmond Fellowship’s funding, this course is only available to learners living in Kirklees.

Food & Household Budgeting – Kirklees residents

 

Managing OCD

Online

Tuesday 9th January 12.30-2.30pm (1week) 

This learning seminar will help you develop your knowledge and awareness of OCD, how OCD affects you and most importantly what you can do to manage it. The session will introduce proven, self-help techniques to teach you the skills to manage your own symptoms and become your own therapist. Delivered by our partners Kirklees Talking Therapies service, this learning seminar will be facilitated by two friendly psychological wellbeing practitioners.

Managing OCD – Online

 

Weight Off Your Mind

Online

Monday 15th January 10.00am-12.00pm (1 week)

In this supportive workshop, Caroline from Kirklees Success Centre will help us understand why we may sometimes turn to binge eating, and eating for comfort, when facing challenging emotions.  Together, we will learn tools to help us gain control over this type of eating by changing our mindset and building motivation for positive change. The activities in this workshop are designed to help us gain control over what we eat, instead of the desire to eat controlling us!

Please bring a favourite drink or snack to the session for one of the activities – this can be anything, but preferably something you consider a treat.

Please note this session is not suitable for anyone currently experiencing anorexia or bulimia, nor anyone recovering from these issues.

Weight Off Your Mind – Kirklees residents

 

Rooting into Place

Brian Jackson House, New North Parade, Huddersfield, HD1 5JP

Monday 15th January 10.00am-12.00pm

Come along and join us for this amazing four week creative course where, together we will explore what it means to connect to a place – and ourselves.  Through stories, folklore, art, foraging and a variety of other means we hope to create a sense of belonging and a more meaningful relationship with the place we call home, our wider community and the landscape.  Throughout this course and with the help and support of our wonderful Peer Worker, Hannah-May, we will learn about long-forgotten myths and folklore, identify locally grown plants and their many uses and beneficial qualities, produce our own inks and paints using natural resources such as earth and rock and use these to create our own colourful, expressive story through mark making and mindful drawing activities.

To discover the inspiration for this course, please read Hannah-May’s blog here: In Search of Roots – Calderdale and Kirklees Recovery College (calderdalekirkleesrc.nhs.uk)

Rooting into Place

 

Please remember that if you are already enrolled with the College, there is no need to enrol again.  Just get in touch via your learner portal, email or telephone to book on your chosen course or workshop.

Email: ckrecovery.wellbeing@swyt.nhs.uk or Telephone: 07717 867911

If you are new to the College please enrol here

 

 

Covid rates are rising and very high at the moment. Please don’t spread your germs if you have any symptoms remember to stay at home! Thanks

 

Other Community Offers:

Winter doesn’t have to be lonely.

That’s the message of this year’s Great Winter Get Together, but what do we mean by loneliness? And how can we alleviate it? These are all questions which our series of Great Winter Get Together webinars seek to answer.

Our three Great Winter Get Together webinars this year will cover:

• 28 November – An introduction to the Great Winter Get Together: Join The Jo Cox Foundation staff team to learn more about why we run the Great Winter Get Together and how you can get involved.
• 6 December – What is loneliness and how do we address it: Join experts from loneliness charities to learn more about what loneliness is and how we can support those who are affected by it.
• 13 December – How can we create places for connection: Great Winter Get Together events act as places where people can find meaningful connection. Join experts from Warm Welcome, the Connection Coalition and Chatty Cafe Scheme to discuss how we can organise events so that they support people to connect with each other.

Spaces for these sessions are limited and we expect them to sell out, so sign up now for your free spot.

Book here

 

Free Annual Health Checks

Did you know you are entitled to a free Annual Health Check if you have a diagnosis of Schizophrenia, Bi-Polar Disorder or Psychosis?

Prevention is better than cure and a health check can be a good way to avert any potential health problems from developing.

However, the uptake of a free health check is very low, meaning that many people could be facing serious health issues without even realising it.

We would love to hear your thoughts and ideas to help encourage the residents of Calderdale to book a health check appointment with their GP Practise.

This could include sharing your experience of attending a health check, attending meetings, workshops, and training events. This work could literally save lives.

If you can help, please call or email the College for more information. You could literally be a life saver!

 

Invictus Wellbeing Drop-in for young people in Calderdale

Edshift, 7 Harrison Road, Halifax, HX1 2AF

EXCITING NEWS!  New drop-in and peer support groups in Halifax will be running every Tuesday from 5-6pm for 14-17s & 6-7pm for 18-25s and are completely free.

Theses will be confidential safe spaces for any young person needing support. No need for a referral, you can just turn up and meet the friendly staff.

For more info head to: https://www.invictuswellbeing.com/dropin

If you’re a parent or young person with any questions, you can also text Katie on 07734452169

 

Friendship Café, Mirfield

Feeling lonely or isolated? Need a bit of company? Why not join like-minded people at Mirfield Library once a month for a cuppa, a piece of cake and a good old chat?

First Friday of every month at Mirfield Library, 10.30am – 12pm.

https://www.facebook.com/DewsburySoroptimists

 

Healthy Minds, Calderdale

Healthy Minds offers a range of free support for anybody who lives or works in Calderdale. You don’t need to be referred, just get in touch with the relevant worker beforehand to join a group or activity.

Healthy Minds provides a range of services including drop-in sessions, peer support groups, Walks for Wellbeing and welfare rights information.

See their What’s On calendar for details of current groups and events. Information about how to join a group or session is included in individual event descriptions:

Healthy Minds What’s On Calendar

 

Cost of Living Information:

Click the link below to find links to websites and workbooks that can provide help and advice with money, debt and the cost of living.

Cost of Living Information – Calderdale and Kirklees

Small Interest Free Loans of £50 and £250 with financial incentives launched

Calderdale Credit Union (CCU) and Calderdale Council have recently launched a new scheme to offer affordable lending to low-income households. Residents can self-refer or be referred by a partner organisation. For further information and to apply contact CCU.

Gambling Understood

A new website called ‘Gambling Understood’ has been launched by the Association of Directors of Public Health Yorkshire and Humber to bring together reliable information and support about gambling in one place (link)

Free Community Christmas Day Dinner

Join us at the Longcauseway Church Dewsbury. This event is open to anyone

Book on by calling 07398 735530 or visit our Units 34-34a Cloth Hall Street, Crackenedge Lane, Dewsbury WF13 1QE

 

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We hope you have a great weekend 🙂

The Recovery & Wellbeing College Team

ckrecovery.wellbeing@swyt.nhs.uk

 07717 867911